Biological Sciences MSci

Biological Sciences MSci degree overview

This four-year MSci offers an additional year on top of the Biological Sciences BSc, which includes an extended research project in the fourth year, providing extra depth and knowledge which will particularly benefit those interested in further research. You will have the option to choose the MSci Biological Sciences (International Programme), which offers you the possibility to spend your third year abroad in Asia, Australia, Europe or the USA.

Course benefits

• Students have access to excellent facilities, including the field station at Blakeney Point in Norfolk, our on-site museum, the Grant Museum of Zoology and the UCL Cruciform Hub.

• Our research-led teaching also takes advantage of our links with other top London institutions such as the Natural History Museum, ZSL London Zoo and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

• Taught across the Faculty of Life Sciences, we offer a breadth of biological education unmatched in almost any other UK university.

• Your final year project will form the majority of your final year - you will be an active member of the GEE Research Department.

• National Student Survey results:
  - 84% of students were satisfied with the teaching on their course. (NSS 2022)
  - 91% of students were satisfied with the learning resources provided on their course. (NSS 2022)

Career opportunities

Biological Sciences can lead to a wide range of careers. There is key skills training embedded in our degrees (e.g., in statistics, computing and in giving presentations), which helps make you attractive to employers.

Many of our graduates choose to undertake further studies, aiming for a research career in a university or in industry. As well as careers in scientific fields, such as in the health service, conservation or the pharmaceutical industry, our graduates have also pursued further training or employment in management, teaching, accounting, the civil service and law.

Student view

“One of my highlights has been studying abroad at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. The opportunity to spend a year in Canada studying, exploring and meeting people from all over the world was incredible.”

Alice Miller - Biological Sciences MSci Fourth Year

Modules

Year 1

 

Selection	Module	Title	Credit
Compulsory	BIOC0001	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	15
Compulsory	BIOL0001	Quantitative Biology	15
Compulsory	BIOC0004	Introduction to Microbiology	15
Compulsory	BIOL0002	First Year Core Skills	0
Compulsory	BIOL0003	Introduction to Genetics	15
Compulsory	BIOL0004	Life on Earth	15
Compulsory	BIOL0006	Methods in Ecology and Evolution	15
Compulsory	CELL0007	Cells and Development	15
Optional Students will need to choose one of the following modules	CHEM0010	Chemistry for Biology Students	15
	BIOL0005	Fundamentals of Biology	15

 

Modules - Year 2, 3 and 4

Once first year of the degree is completed, students may choose to either stay on the Biological Sciences programme or transfer to a more focused degree in the area of interest:

• Biological Sciences
• Biological Sciences: Cell Biology
• Biological Sciences: Computational Biology (only available from year 3 MSci)
• Biodiversity and Conservation Stream
• Human Genetics
• Genetics
• Zoology